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Prescription drug take back program opens

Permanent receptacles for the disposal of unused medications are now available and open, for anyone wanting to get rid of unwanted prescription drugs.

The receptacle boxes are located in the lobbies of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office’s Silverdale and Port Orchard offices, according to Deputy Scott Wilson, spokesman.

The purpose of this program is to provide a safe, legal and environmentally friendly alternative to disposing of prescription medications. According to the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, prescription drugs are the second most abused category of drugs in the U. S.

This program was designed to provide safe locations to dispose of medications no longer needed, thereby removing potential abuse by others, as well as to provide a system of destroying medications in a manner less likely to contaminate environmental systems.

This initiative permits the disposal of prescription medications on any weekday during sheriff’s office business hours. A specific drug collection box has been installed in the lobby of each office. The box is a receptacle similar to a large, free-standing metal mailbox, has external locks and a deposit slot for placing medications inside.

Directions regarding the eligible and ineligible products that may be dropped into the collection boxes are displayed on each collection box.

Items that will be accepted include prescription medications, prescription ointments, prescription patches, over the counter medications, sample prescription medications, vitamins and medications for pets.

Items that will not be accepted are:

• Aerosol cans

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Inhalers

• Intravenous solutions or injectables

• Lotions or liquids

• Medications turned in by businesses or clinics

• Medical waste

• Needles (sharps)

• Thermometers

Receptacle locations for disposal of medications are at 3951 NW Randall Way in Silverdale which is open 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1-4:40 p.m. weekdays; and 614 Division St. in Port Orchard from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays

This prescription medications take back program was planned by a visionaries team from Leadership Kitsap, Class 2013, in conjunction with the sheriff’s office.

The success of this initiative was preceded by an on-going collaborative effort for several years, engaged in community outreach and education, and led by Kitsap Public Health District, Peninsula Community Health Services and Count on Kitsap to Reduce Substance Abuse Coalition.

“Without the initial trials and lessons learned from these agencies, the development of this joint initiative between Leadership Kitsap and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office would not have been implemented quite so readily,” said Wilson.

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